While I'm on the topic of alternative chicken feeds, I thought I'd toss out a few other ideas you may not have heard of. Chances are you've considered growing plants like corn and sunflowers for your flock, but how about ... worms? Or black soldier flies? Or Japanese beetles?

Back in the vegetable kingdom, many books sing the praises of raising duckweed for your flock, but our spoiled chickens turned up their noses (or should that be beaks?). We're in the early stages of experimenting with tree fruits, and so far persimmons and mulberries both seem to have potential in the chicken pasture.

And then there are the crazy ideas I want to research in more depth this winter. Like trapping or raising crawdads for our chickens. Or maybe growing snails, slugs, or grasshoppers. I'd be curious to hear your suggestions on the topic.

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Share your thoughts.

Sarah

12/13/2013 11:59:54 AM

I am raising meal worms as an alternative to commercial layer ration because after all my chickens are free range so why feed them ration designed for commercial chickens? The worms are easy to raise and the chickens love them. http://homesteadandfolly.blogspot.ca/2013/11/alternative-organic-protein-for.html

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